Palladium-based bimetallic catalysts for highly selective semihydrogenation of alkynes using ex situ generated hydrogen

Semihydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes is an important and fundamental reaction in many industrial and synthetic applications and often suffers low selectivity because of the overhydrogenation. Here, highly selective semihydrogenation of alkynes is achieved by using H₂ ex situ generated from formic acid dehydrogenation with palladium (Pd)-based bimetallic catalysts through a two-chamber reactor in this work, realizing efficient utilization of H₂ and selective production of alkenes under mild reaction conditions. The Pd-based bimetallic catalysts show excellent catalytic performances for semihydrogenation of alkynes (PdZn bimetallic catalyst) and dehydrogenation of formic acid (PdAg bimetallic catalyst) in the two-chamber reactor.